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- The Zeitgeist: June 6, 2025
The Zeitgeist: June 6, 2025
Today's Edition: Tipping, Millennial Museums and Mattel Creations
Good morning. This week, Nintendo made headlines with the launch of its latest console, the Switch 2. Following two decades of courting casual gamers, the brand is now tapping into celebrity appeal — leaning into nostalgia with a self-aware Paul Rudd campaign and rolling out buzzy retail stunts, including a Walmart bundle that paired the console with snacks.
Meanwhile, the creative industry is gearing up for the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This year’s festival is expected to continue reflecting a shift in focus, with increased attention on earned-led campaigns, a growing presence of creators, and rising voices helping to define the industry’s next chapter. Check out the list of contenders here.
Campaigns
Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments
Also, KFC’s Finger Lickin’ Fork, Carvel’s soft-serve dispensing billboard, Dunkin’ x Stoney Clover Lane’s merch collab for National Doughnut Day (6/6), Burt’s Bees x Mike’s Hot Honey’s lip balm and Chipotle’s Instant Freeplays for the NBA Finals.
Culture
Snackable bites of consumer culture
Corporate
Trends at work and for good
Commerce
Shopper society snapshot
Connections
Feed intelligence
Media Moves:
Saabira Chaudhuri, formerly consumer goods reporter at The Wall Street Journal, has left the publication after 12 years and has yet to announce her new role.
Kristina Peterson, formerly reporter at The Wall Street Journal, is now big food reporter at Bloomberg on the US Consumer team, covering companies including Pepsi, Kraft and General Mills.
Jackie Lopez, formerly senior producer at Bloomberg Technology, is now executive producer at Bloomberg Television, leading the expansion of technology coverage.
Brenda Stolyar, formerly staff writer at WIRED, is now senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering smartphones, tablets and wearables.
Jason Dean, formerly global tech editor at The Wall Street Journal, is now lead analyst for WP Intelligence at The Washington Post, lead its AI and Tech vertical.
Hayden Field, formerly tech reporter at CNBC, is now senior AI reporter at The Verge, where she will lead coverage of the biggest names in AI, from OpenAI to Meta, and report on how these tools are being used, how they’re reshaping society and how regulators are responding.
Trishna Rikhy, formerly associate style commerce editor at Esquire, is now associate social media manager at GQ.
Layoffs were announced this week at Inc. and Fast Company.
Also... check out Mice in The Museum, a Google Arts & Culture AI audio experience that follows two cartoon mice exploring museums and discussing art.
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